The 10 Most Unhealthy Menu Items in Fast Food

By Maria W. • Oct 03, 2024

We know most fast food is bad for us. But in the U.S., going through a fast-food drive-thru is almost an official national pastime. Unhealthy food is fine in moderation, but wouldn't you like to know what the worst fast-food offenders are? Here's a list of the 10 junkiest items from fast food chains.

#1. Arby's^® Curly Fries

Not these crispy golden curls of yumminess! We understand why so many people love Arby's Curly Fries. But if you get a large order, you're eating 650 calories, 35 grams of fat, and 77 grams of carbs. That's a lot for one meal! Eating too much of this kind of junk food can be bad for your health, possibly causing problems like inflammation and heart disease. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-1

#2. Popeyes^® Chicken Tenders

A serving of Mild Handcrafted Chicken Tenders has 340 calories and 26 grams of carbs. Add dipping sauce, a side, and a soda to this deep-fried entree, and you've got one unhealthy meal. What's more, these tenders contain trans fats, which are so unhealthy, Europe has banned them, and some American restaurants have stopped cooking with them. Trans fats can lead to inflammation, heart disease, and weight gain, especially around your belly. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-2

#3. McDonald's^® Triple Thick Milkshake

Any ice cream-based treat described as "triple thick" sounds pretty dreamy, right? But a large McDonald's Triple Thick Milkshake packs a whopping 1,100 calories and 193 grams of carbs. That's more than half the calories most people need in a day. And with 135 grams of sugar, your dentist would like a word. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-3

#4. Cinnabon^® Caramel Pecanbon

The Caramel Pecanbon is big on calories and carbs, but short on the vitamins and minerals your body needs. This giant roll has an incredible 1,080 calories, 51 grams of fat, and 146 grams of carbs – 75 of which come from added sugars. The Pecanbon does have fiber, but only three grams. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-4

#5. Starbucks^® White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino

Coffee itself has no calories and offers health benefits, so we can easily forget coffee-based drinks can be as unhealthy – or worse – than junk foods. Drinks such as frozen coffee blends are basically just a big sugary treat. The White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino^® from Starbucks with whipped cream packs a whopping 520 calories and 65 grams of carbs, with 64 grams coming from sugar! And that's just the grande – we're afraid to look at the venti. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-5

#6. Dunkin' Donuts^® Glazed Jelly Stick

Everyone loves a good doughnut, right? But what if it doesn't love you back? Deep-fried and loaded with refined flour and sugar, this sweet treat also has trans fats, which we know are so unhealthy, some countries have banned them.
The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-6

#7. KFC^® Famous Bowl

The KFC Famous Bowl is made with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, and cheese. This dish is not sweet, and it contains vegetables, so it's okay, right? Not so fast. First of all, the Famous Bowl includes hydrogenated oils and corn syrup – some of fast food's unhealthiest ingredients. And now for the numbers: This bowl has 710 calories, 82 grams of carbs, and 31 grams of fat. There are healthier ways to get your meat and vegetables! The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-7

#8. Dairy Queen^® Royal Reese's Brownie Blizzard^®

Every word in this treat's title sounds like heaven if you love ice cream, peanut butter and gooey chocolate brownies. But a large Royal Reese's Brownie Blizzard Treat clocks in at an astronomical 1,510 calories! Remember most adults need only 2,000-2,500 calories per day. This Blizzard also contains 189 grams of carbs and 72 grams of fat. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-8

#9. Cold Stone^® Mud Pie Mojo

Yes, ice cream again. We know most ice cream treats will never be known as "healthy," but the Mud Pie Mojo takes "unhealthy" to a new level. Featuring coffee ice cream, Oreo^® cookies, peanut butter, almonds, and chocolate fudge mixed together, a large Mud Pie Mojo contains 1,240 calories, 80 grams of fat, and 123 grams of carbs. And 105 of those carb grams come from sugar! The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-9

#10. The Subway^® Foot-Long Spicy Italian Sub

We typically think of Subway as a healthier fast-food option, but get a load of the numbers in this sub: 48 grams of fat and almost 1,000 calories! Apparently, the grams of fat and calories really add up in 12 inches of bread and processed meat. The 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain Junk Foods in America-10

Fast food is everywhere these days, and in American culture, unhealthy menu items will likely always be popular. It's okay to indulge in junk foods occasionally, but don't make it a habit. Fast food is convenient, but the high sugar, unhealthy fats, and fake ingredients can lead to problems like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Choosing healthier options most of the time will keep you healthy and feeling good. Your body will thank you!

References: The 15 Unhealthiest Junk Foods in America | 17 of the Worst Junk Foods You Can Buy in America | 18 of the Unhealthiest Fast Food Items You Can Order